The Howling Heart's Forgiveness

Chapter 125

Smoothing out the blue dress I have changed into, I quickly slip on the black heels and make my way to the living room to wait with a fresh cup of chamomile tea. Rune should be back from the guest house after delivering the new oven there. He said he would come home to quickly shower and drive us to the Pack House in time to greet Shadow Rose. There will be both a welcome dinner as well as the usual bonfire and plenty of alcohol to go around.

“Sorry I am late.” Rune calls out as soon as the door to the cottage opens.

“Not a problem, you were helping Gale ready the guest house.” I shrug, smiling as he places a kiss on my cheek.

“Yeah. Just give me ten minutes to shower and change and we can head to the Pack House.” He says, moving past me and heading towards the bathroom.

“I put some clothes for you on the counter.” I call out, shaking my head as he yells back thank you before closing the bathroom door. I sink onto the sofa, groaning in relief at resting my body. Training while now six weeks pregnant has taken a lot of my energy, but I can’t stop now. I need to ensure that Tanya and her unborn pup are killed before more danger can come from them - as much as I hate the idea of killing an innocent pup. Sipping on my tea, I look out the window lost in thought. We could always keep Tanya alive long enough for her to give birth to her pup and hand the newborn off to a loving family, but the idea of a possible threat looming over my family worries me. That pup would be the aunt or uncle of my own. Would have a claim to Pine Moon one day in the future.

“Ready to go?” The bathroom door opens and out walks Rune wearing a pair of black slacks and a navy blue dress shirt that I left for him on the counter. He smiles at me, towel-drying his black hair which has become longer and shaggier in these last few weeks.

“I am.” I answer, placing my now empty cup onto the living room table before pushing off from the couch and making my way towards the door. Rune throws his towel in the direction of the basement door and I roll my eyes at this. Thankfully it’s his night to do laundry so I don’t have to deal with the wet towel. He gives me a worried glance, pulls me into his arms, and tucks a strand of hair behind my ear.

“What’s worrying you?” He asks, his grey eyes searching mine. I know he can sense my gnawing worry in the Mate Bond and I sigh.

“I have been thinking about the pup inside Tanya.” I answer, pressing my forehead against his shoulder.

“I know we need to kill the bitch, but her pup is innocent in all of this. As a soon-to-be mother myself, I don’t know if I can kill her while she is pregnant.” I continue. Rune is silent, his arms tightening around me. I breathe in his scent and feel myself slowly relax.

“If we can keep her alive long enough for the pup to be born, we will do that. But she is a threat to our little pup.” He states, his words reassuring but firm.

“When the time comes and it’s a choice between keeping you and our pup alive or Tanya, I will choose you and our pup every time.” He continues. I hesitate and mull over his words but agree in the end. If there is a chance to keep Tanya alive for the pup’s sake, then we will do that. If not, then unfortunately Tanya and her pup will need to be killed to keep our loved ones safe.

With our conversation done, Rune shoves on his dress shoes before we leave the cottage. I make my way to the passenger side of my truck only to have Rune beat me there and hold open the door. I shake my head while smiling, accepting his help to climb into the truck and settle into my seat. Rune closes the door and scurries around to the driver’s side where he quickly buckles in and drives out of our driveway. Within a few minutes, we are parking beside the Pack House and making our way to the growing crowd as the sounds of happy howls fill the air. We have just made it in time to greet Tristan, Delilah, and their wolves.

“How is it that Rune and you can make it on time, but Gale is still late.” Asteria muses with a shake of her head, her face full of smiles.

“Maybe because Gale takes forever in the shower. I remember having to wait to shower when I stayed at your house for a few days.” I state with a shrug, causing Asteria to laugh.

“He does love his showers. So do I.” My face scrunches up at the innuendo in her words, Rune coughing awkwardly beside me. Neither of us wants to hear about how Chase, Lunette, and Gray came to be. Quincy and Milan are next to join us, our two Head Warriors looking dashing with Milan in a long burgundy dress and Quincy in a pair of fitted jeans and a burgundy shirt that matches his Mate’s dress.

“What are we talking about?” Milan asks, her eyes moving between Asteria and me.

“Gale and his love of showers.” Rune answers, resting his head against my shoulder.

“That man may be one of our leaders, but I have never seen someone take a one-hour shower until I met him.” Quincy chuckles out, Asteria stating that he used to take two-hour showers before they learned they were Mates.

“Are they here? Am I late?” Gale’s hurried voice calls out as he makes his way through the crowd to join our side.

“They just crossed the border and you just made it in time.” Asteria answers as she turns to face Gale, a small frown on her face as she takes in the crooked tie around his neck. She reaches out, fixing Gale’s tie and chiding him that he needs to take quicker showers when visiting allies are arriving, to which Gale shrugs off, stating it's only Tristan and that he would understand if Gale was late for being busy. Asteria lets out an exasperated sigh at her Mate, giving him a look I have received on to many times – a look that signals this discussion is not over – and I send a silent prayer to the Goddess for Gale.

Wolves break past the tree line, heading towards our direction as they lead a caravan of Hummers towards us. I notice Edison and Ricky in the lead, the two wolves letting out a howl as they reach the first of the houses near the main road. I smile at these two as Quest sneakily joins our group, standing to my left.

[Can we talk later after Shadow Rose is settled in?] My friend asks. Turning my head I catch a look of concern on his face and nod. Something must be bothering him for Quest to want to speak to me in private. He gives me a relieved smile before I return my focus to the vehicles pulling up beside the Pack House. Tristan is the first to step out as soon as the Hummers stop moving. He helps his Mate to climb out of the Hummer, a smile on his face as his Luna stands by his side.

Now that the leaders are out, the rest of Shadow Rose exit their respective vehicles, moving to come and stand behind their Alpha and Luna.

“Glad to see you again Tristan!” Asteria greets, stepping towards the man and hugging him.

“Glad to know we are still welcomed here.” He retorts with a smile, pulling away to pull Delilah to his side.

“I know you have all met her over our conference calls the last week, but everyone, this is my Mate and Luna, Delilah.” He introduces, the short auburn-haired she-wolf moving to hug Asteria and rub their cheeks together.

“I haven’t said it yet but thank you for helping us take down Viren. I am glad our Pack can return the favor and help you all takedown Tanya and Valor.” Delilah says with a smile, a hint of bloodthirstiness coming from the small unassuming she-wolf. Asteria smiles and promises that we will talk more about our plans tomorrow as Gale moves to shake Tristan’s hand. Now that the formal greetings of the Alpha pair are done. Rune and I step forward, Tristan being the first to envelop me in a bear hug while Delilah moves to hug Rune.

“Hello, my new little sister-in-law.” Tristan greets me, his voice full of laughter.

“I may be a little sister-in-law to you, but I will kick your ass in training tomorrow.” I call back, ending the hug to greet Delilah.

“The Pack already has bets on who will end up flat on their ass. You’re the favorite choice amongst the she-wolves.” Delilah states as she hugs me, the two of us rubbing our cheeks together. I can see why she is named Delilah as the scent of delilahs wraps around me, coming from the she-wolf that I am quickly learning is a spitfire. Considering that Tristan told me that she rejected him thinking he was just like Viren and Viren’s father at the time, I wonder if she too can take her Mate down in a sparing match.

“Glad to know the she-wolves count on me in kicking their Alpha’s ass.” I tease, turning to catch Tristan talking with Maco and congratulating him on finding his Mate. Avery is just behind him, arms wrapped around a burly-looking male with dark umber skin and his head shaved completely clean. He notices me staring and waves at me. I wave back, noticing no malice before turning to take a look at the wolves mingling about on the lawn. Many of my wolves are happily chatting to Shadow Rose’s wolves and I recognize a few that came to Crescent Phoenix months ago when Viren was still Alpha. They ask Ashton who has now joined our group – Devlyn nowhere to be seen – if our alcohol will be served today to which Ashton hurriedly agrees will be here.

I continue scanning the crowd, feeling a sense of peace in the air knowing that everyone is getting along, and notice that Rune has gone off to talk with a few of Shadow Rose warriors. His face is filled with a smile as he laughs with three wolves I have never met before and after asking Tristan about how close Rune seems to these wolves, I learn that they helped rescue me by keeping Viren’s men at bay. Wanting to thank them, I take one step towards the group of four, wanting to have Rune introduce me to these wolves, but am stopped when Asteria calls out that dinner is ready and we should all head inside to eat before we move to our bonfire.

Rune is quick to excuse himself from these Warriors, coming to my side and wrapping his arms around me.

“Will you introduce me to your friends? I want to thank them for helping to rescue me.” I ask him, melting into Rune’s side as we make our way into the Pack House and towards the Dining Hall.

“I will tonight during the bonfire.” He agrees, pressing a kiss to my temple. I smile, excited to spend this evening getting to know Delilah, Avery, and her Mate before we get thrown into a never-ending loop of training in order to take back Pine Moon from Valor and Tanya’s control.